Inside a pit on the cliff.
Laxus, his bare torso exposed, was pinned to the bottom of the pit by gravity. Golden lightning danced erratically over his body. His arms dug into the ground as he forced out a grimace: "Shut... up already!!!"
Accompanied by a furious roar, Laxus strained against a force seven times greater than his own weight, slowly rising. He was teetering on the edge of uncontrollable rage.
Electrike, perched at the pit's edge, looked anxious. It scurried over to Gaal, chattering and flapping its little arms as if pleading on Laxus's behalf.
Gaal simply patted Electrike's head, soothing it.
Watching Laxus slowly get back on his feet, Gaal remarked, "Oh? Quite angry, aren't you? I thought you'd given up on hope, turned into that naive kid who'd never smile again. Whether you like it or not… Ivan's situation has come to this. You don't really expect that by acting like this, Ivan will take pity and change his mind, do you? Come on? Really?"
Perhaps he had struck a nerve with Laxus, because before Gaal could finish his words, Laxus suddenly raised his head and roared furiously:
"I said it! Shut up!!!"
Sizzling—
Golden lightning crackled around Laxus as his surging Magic Power expanded outward, breaking through Gaal's simple restraint. Laxus raised his right arm, charged with magic, and roared at Gaal, "Thunder Dragon's Break Fist!!!"
A tightly compressed column of golden lightning gathered on his right arm and surged forward. The several-meter-wide pillar of golden lightning barreled directly toward Gaal.
Gaal flipped his right hand and, between his index and middle fingers, a blank card materialized, aimed right at the incoming pillar.
Whoosh!
A flash of light rushed by.
Laxus's attack vanished in an instant, leaving only a golden card drifting in the air.
Gaal released his fingers, letting the card float, now pointed directly at Laxus. Clenching his fist, he aimed at the card and said, "Thunder Dragon's… Break Fist."
His punch slammed into the card, channeling a steady flow of Magic Power into it. The card blazed brilliantly as a massive column of electricity—several times thicker than the one Laxus had sent—erupted from it and hurtled straight toward Laxus.
Laxus's pupils shrank in alarm as he weakly raised his hands in a feeble block.
Bang!!!
A thunderous explosion shook the forest, startling countless birds and Pokémon.
The golden pillar of lightning burst off the cliff, slicing across the sky above Magnolia Town, its radiance illuminating the town for a brief moment.
Inside the Fairy Tail Guild.
At the massive floor-to-ceiling windows flanking the entrance, everyone had gathered around two long, joined tables, chattering excitedly as they prepared for a hot pot meal. Ur, clad in a swimsuit, was demonstrating the proper way to eat alongside Gray and Lyon.
Makarov stood alone in a corner, gazing through the large windows at the cliff in the West Forest, his expression etched with worry. "Laxus..."
In the West Forest.
On the cliff.
A long ravine cut across the scene, and at its far end, Laxus—his arms braced for support—struggled to stand.
In that moment, a cloud of confusion flickered in his eyes. Though long accustomed to lightning, the sudden, overwhelming surge of current had left him momentarily dazed. It hadn't caused lasting harm, but it rendered him nearly blank with shock.
Then, as quickly as it had come, his anger flared anew: "Idiot! Using such tricks! Do you really think you can toy with me?!"
Gaal's lips curved into a slight smirk. "Of course I am. Not satisfied?"
Magic roiled through Laxus as he bellowed, "Thunder Dragon's Roar!!!"
But Gaal merely produced the card once more. With another flash, Laxus's roar vanished without a trace. Gaal then pinched the card between his fingers.
Whoosh!
In an instant, Gaal vanished from his spot and reappeared right before Laxus.
Smack.
Gaal pressed the card against Laxus's abdomen and, with a powerful punch, calmly declared: "Thunder Dragon's Roar."
Bang!
The ground on the cliff exploded into a massive pit, punctuated by Laxus's agonized scream.
"You... this guy..."
Boom!
"Thunder Dragon's Jaws, ahhh!!!"
Boom!
On the cliff, golden sparks of electricity flickered continuously as the ground trembled. Laxus fell again and again, only to rise repeatedly. His tone—once filled with raging fury—had shifted briefly toward reason, yet he kept lunging at Gaal time after time.
Electrike hid in a nearby tree. With its tiny paw raised and covering its eyes, it watched helplessly, its wide, curious eyes peeking through the gaps, as Laxus repeatedly crashed to the ground.
After who knows how long...
Boom!!!
The ground shuddered violently as Laxus struggled to rise. After several failed attempts, he finally collapsed with a thud at the bottom of the pit. Turning over laboriously onto his back, his body was marred with bruises as he panted heavily.
Laxus managed to lift an arm to shield his eyes. Tears streamed from his eyes, falling to the ground. He clenched his teeth, desperate not to make a sound, yet his choking sobs eventually erupted into heart-wrenching, uncontrollable crying.
Gaal, who had moved from the edge of the pit to sitting nearby, said nothing to stop him.
After a while, Laxus's cries gradually subsided. He lowered the hand that had been covering his eyes, as if he had utterly vented his pain, and in a slightly hoarse voice he murmured, "Sorry... Gaal... brother."
He hesitated for a moment but still called him that.
Gaal spoke softly, "Now that you've vented, stand up."
Laxus nodded and pushed himself up from the pit, though the sting of pain all over made him grimace fiercely.
A green light shot from Gaal's fingertips and flowed into Laxus's body.
Laxus felt a warm current rising within him. But before he could savor the relief, the pain suddenly intensified tenfold. The excruciating agony nearly caused him to pass out. "Ahhhhhh!!!" he screamed.
Overwhelmed by pain, Laxus collapsed again. When he finally came to, his body was healed, but the lingering sensation made his lips twitch involuntarily. "Next time, could you warn me before treating me...?" he grumbled.
With effort, Laxus braced himself and stood up once more from the pit. Though his body had been mended, he was determined never to endure that treatment again.
Gaal shrugged and said, "It's for your own good. Now, let's tidy up. Wipe your face. Everyone's waiting for you to start dinner."
Laxus stared in disbelief. "Waiting for me?"
Gaal smiled warmly. "Yes. They're waiting for you."
Following Gaal's gaze, Laxus could just make out, at the far end of Magnolia Town—before the grand windows of the Guild—a throng of people huddled around a long table. Yet not one person was seated and ready to eat.
Ur was busy carrying the water kettle, refilling each pot, while a group of children scampered around the table.
Laxus stood on the cliff, completely stunned. Even from such a distance, he could clearly sense the presence of a pair of compassionate eyes fixed on him through the windows.
Grandpa...
And everyone... is waiting for me...
Smack!
Gaal's hand patted Laxus's shoulder.
"Let's go."
"Mm..."